§ Mr. ROWLANDS(by Private Notice): I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take immediate steps to urge the railway companies to deliver coal to the coal merchants at Erith; whether he is aware that on account of the shortage people are paying 2s. 3d. and 2s. 4d. per cwt.; and whether the coal merchants have sent out notice that they cannot get railway-borne coal through to meet the requirements of the district, and 487 owing to the high freights that they will have to charge 42s. per ton for some seaborne coal they have secured?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo complaints on the subject have yet reached the Board of Trade, but inquiries will be made.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will look into this matter at once, as I have information that people will have no coal for Christmas?
§ Mr. PRETYMANWe will inquire into it at once. It is the first we have heard of it.